ATP roundup: Poland, Switzerland to conflict in United Cup last

Poland ousted the defending champion United States to advance to the final of the United Cup against Switzerland on Saturday in Sydney.

Both Poland and Switzerland clinched their victories in the mixed-doubles round of the tournament, which began with 18 countries. Poland will be playing in its third consecutive final.

Hubert Hurkacz got Poland off to a 1-0 lead when he beat Taylor Fritz 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2), but Coco Gauff evened the contest with her 6-4, 6-2 victory against Iga Swiatek. Poland’s pair of Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa squeaked out a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) win to send their country to the final. The Americans had two opportunities to win the second set on their own serve but couldn’t.

The contest between Switzerland and Belgium also came down to mixed doubles, and the Swiss pair of Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul prevailed with a 6-3, 0-6, 10-5 win against Elise Mertens and Zizou Bergs. Earlier, Bencic topped Mertens 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0) in singles play, but Belgium forced the decider when Bergs defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 in withering 107-degree heat.

Brisbane International

No. 1 seed Daniil Medvedev reached his 41st ATP Tour final with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Alex Michelsen. He will face another American, Brandon Nakashima, who recorded a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over Aleksandar Kovacevic.

Medvedev struck nine aces but counted seven double faults among his 27 unforced errors. But he cashed in on four of eight break opportunities, while Nakashima could convert just one of eight. He trails only Novak Djokovic (144) for most tour finals reached among active players.

Nakashima has not dropped a set this week in Brisbane. Against Kovacevic, he struck 15 aces among his 29 winners against 15 unforced errors. Kovacevic had 14 aces and 38 winners but committed 35 unforced errors.

Hong Kong Tennis Open

No. 1 seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy overcame a first-set loss to defeat former champion and No. 3 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-4 and have a chance at his first tour title since 2022.

Musetti saved seven of eight break points on his way to the win. His victory assured he will move into the top five of the ATP rankings when the new rankings are released Monday.

In the final, he will meet No. 2 seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, who followed the same script as Musetti. Bublik fell behind early but came back to defeat American Marcos Giron 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

–Field Level Media